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Los Angeles, July 13 (IANS) The trailer of the upcoming film ‘Digger’ starring Hollywood icon Tom Cruise was unveiled on Monday. The film is a comedy of catastrophic proportions, and is helmed by the Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alejandro G. Inarritu.

Tom Cruise portrays the role of Digger Rockwell, an oil baron whose company may have triggered an ecological catastrophe with the potential to spark a nuclear war. As the consequences of his actions threaten to spiral beyond control, he embarks on a frantic mission to prove to the world that he alone can save humanity before the disaster he unleashes destroys everything.

The screenplay has been penned by Alejandro G. Inarritu and Oscar winners Alexander Dinelaris and Nicolas Giacobone, and Sabina Berman, from a story by Inarritu and Berman.

The film also stars Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Oscar nominee Sandra Huller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Oscar nominee Jesse Plemons. Robert John Burke, Emma D’Arcy, Burn Gorman and Sophie Wilde.

The film is produced by Inarritu, Oscar nominee Mary Parent, Tom Cruise and Michael Sharp, and executive produced by Joshua Grode, Sabina Berman, Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolás Giacobone, Jez Butterworth and Emmanuel Lubezki.

The film boasts of a powerful team behind the camera including Inarritu’s previous collaborators like director of photography Emmanuel Lubezki, editors Conor O’Neill and Stephen Mirrione, costume designer Jacqueline West, Oscar-winning makeup and hair designer Alessandro Bertolazzi, and Oscar-nominated casting director Francine Maisler, alongside Oscar-winning production designer Dennis Gassner and production designer Richard Johnson, Oscar-winning prosthetic makeup designer Kazu Hiro, and composer Cosmo Sheldrake.

‘Digger’ was shot entirely in VistaVision. The film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film is set to release in cinemas and IMAX across India on October 2 2026 .

--IANS

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Mumbai, July 13 (IANS) Music composer Leslee Lewis is over the moon after PM Narendra Modi presented Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with a collector's edition vinyl of the ‘Colonial Cousins’ album during his official visit to Australia.

The album was released in the 1990s, and changed the sound of Indian music forever as it blended Indian classical traditions with Western pop, rock and acoustic influences. Hariharan and Leslee Lewis created an album that broke barriers, connected generations and inspired an entirely new era of Indian fusion music.

Talking about the same, Leslee Lewis said, "I never imagined that the music we created from the heart would one day become part of such a historic moment between two nations. To know that Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chose the Colonial Cousins collector's edition vinyl as a diplomatic gift is an honour beyond words”.

“I am deeply thankful to him for recognising the universal language of music and for allowing our work to represent India's artistic legacy on the world stage. Moments like these reaffirm that music is far more than entertainment, it is a cultural ambassador that continues to unite hearts across borders and generations”, he added.

More than three decades later, the music continues to resonate, making the vinyl not just a collector's item but a symbol of India's creative spirit and cultural confidence.

Hariharan said, "Every artist hopes that their music will stand the test of time, but very few are fortunate enough to see it become part of a nation's cultural journey. I am truly honoured and grateful to Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for choosing the Colonial Cousins collector's edition vinyl as a symbol of India's friendship and cultural pride. It is deeply touching to see an album created with love, respect and musical harmony continue to carry India's voice to the world. This recognition is a tribute not only to Leslee and me, but also to every listener whose love has kept Colonial Cousins alive through the years”.

As the world increasingly embraces vinyl as a timeless format, PM Modi's choice of gift carried a deeper message, that great music never ages, and true art continues to unite people across cultures and borders.

--IANS

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Mumbai, July 13 (IANS) Actor Fardeen Khan remembered his “Zarine Aunty” on her birth anniversary On Monday, the actor took to his Instagram, and shared a video featuring Zarine Khan with her family members.

The actor also penned a long note in the caption, as he spoke about the reality of life, and the memorable moments with loved ones.

He wrote, “Everything That Is Born, Penelope Thompson Everything that is born already carries its ending, like a seed that knows the soil is both cradle and grave. We walk through life as if it were infinite, measuring tomorrows on clocks made of breath. But time does not keep count; it only folds and unfolds, like a tide remembering every wave that left and returned. Tomorrow is promised to no one. It is the gentle illusion we build to soften the sharpness of now. And yet, knowing this, how fragile each heartbeat is, makes the present more sacred, the love more urgent, the forgiveness more real. Death is not the opposite of life, but its hidden face”.

He further mentioned, “It waits, not with cruelty, but with the calm of one who knows the secret, that endings are only beginnings rearranged. When someone we love crosses that invisible horizon, it is not absence we inherit, but a new form of presence, a silence that hums with all they once were. We speak their names, and they rise again, not in flesh, but in memory’s luminous air. In time, when grief loosens its hold, they begin to live through us, in the way we speak, the kindness we extend, the patience we learn, the laughter we keep alive. Their love becomes a quiet compass, their wisdom a pulse within our choices, their spirit a note in the music of our living”.

He shared that it is the transformation of turning sorrow into continuation, to see that the line between life and death is only the breath between remembering and forgetting who we are.

He added, “So let us not mourn as if light itself has gone out; it has only changed direction. It shines now inward, into the vast cathedral of the soul, where every love once lived and will live again. Everything that is born must die, and everything that dies return, to teach us that nothing was ever truly lost, only transformed, only returned to the great breathing whole. To live is to become someone’s memory, and to die is to become someone’s guide. Zarine Aunty, you are now our guide and live through us. We miss you. #happybirthday”.

--IANS

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Los Angeles, July 13 (IANS) Actor Simon Pegg has credited his friendship with Tom Cruise for teaching him to handle fame. The 56-year-old actor has starred alongside the Hollywood icon in six ‘Mission: Impossible’ movies.

He admires how the ‘Top Gun’ star "conducts himself" when he receives attention from the public, reports ‘Female First UK’.

The actor told The Sunday Times magazine, "I mean, he's not able to go anywhere. But when he does, he's very aware of who he is, what it means. So, yes, I do look at how he conducts himself and have realised you just have to chill out. Anybody who gets frustrated or rejects people that come up to them to say nice things is an a*******”.

He explained that he has been able to debunk the "bizarre mythology" surrounding Cruise, 64, and enjoys being "normal" with the Rain Man actor.

The actor star said "I've been able to hack my way through all the bizarre mythology that surrounds him, I like being normal with him”.

As per ‘Female First UK’, meanwhile, he has been open about the fact that he used to drink heavily when depressed and believes he would still be an alcoholic if he wasn't in the spotlight.

When asked whether he would still be boozing if it wasn't for fame, the actor, who has been sober for the past 16 years, said, "Yes. Fame didn't cause it, it might have exacerbated it at times and thrown it into sharper relief but, no, it was in me before and just happened slightly in public rather than in private”.

He shared that he wants to "live a long life" and has got into shape through daily 10k runs and strength workouts.

He said, "Well, after I quit drinking I decided to get into shape. There was something positive about just looking after myself, and I love working out because it gets endorphins flowing and gives me a routine. The guys that were 56 when I was a kid seemed like my f****** grandad, and I just want to live for a long time. Because, you know what? I like life”.

He credits a stint in a mental health hospital in 2010 for saving his life and admits that nerves prevented him from telling the public about it for eight years.

He said, "I was nervous. And it's not that as if I assume that anything I say is of great importance, but if someone found some connection? Great. Because going through pain can be very lonely. I was someone people thought was superficially all right, but was not all right and that can make people think, 'Oh, everyone feels like this, not just me’”.

--IANS

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Los Angeles, July 13 (IANS) Pop icon Britney Spears says that she derives fun from escaping realities. The singer-songwriter said that she escaped reality by reading about things you're "not supposed to talk about".

The 44-year-old singer, who recently dismissed concerns after she was spotted standing through the moonroof of a vehicle on a highway in Los Angeles, has shed light on her love of fiction in a social media post.

She took to her Instagram, and wrote, "Does anyone believe in mythology.. vampires, ghost, mermaids the things ur not supposed to talk about. why are those the exact topics that serve real interest. Other worlds, the ocean is the most mysterious, watching too much of the discovery channel of course, very few people can go to the deepest parts so much has not been seen (sic)”.

She further mentioned, “There’s so much we still don’t know beyond treasure. I feel like perhaps there might be different worlds there. I’m a dreamer. I’ve read millions of books about it in fiction but it’s fun to escape realities. the gift of literally destroying a book in 20 minutes almost eating the pages with your teeth cus your so f****** into is why I’m here… (sic)".

The Toxic hitmaker continued, "The gift of departing the world and going into a story and characters that you literally fall in love with that aren’t even real, and it’s up to you the reader and the reader itself to go with and either scream, laugh, feel, cry and fall in love with emotions on such a divine level is such a gift. Yet I’m reading a book similar to Benjamin Buttons aging backwards, but its sort of over my head… the writing is a bit slow but i want to see where it goes (sic). It’s weird cus after my 6th chapter last night for some damn reason I put these clothes on and I wanted to see myself in a skirt, it was extremely weird cus I all of a sudden look 6 or 7 years old yet the next day I’m 40 again”.

She added, “Do you think we can do that as people age backwards at the drop of a hat out of nowhere? The mysteries of the universe are beyond my comprehension but it honestly tripped me out to see myself in this video. Very few people can go to the deepest parts of the ocean. My friend said the air pressure to the ears is extremely dangerous. He told me he was certified as someone who supposedly explored the deepest and rarest parts. I mean who knows (sic)”.

--IANS

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Mumbai, July 13 (IANS) Actress Niharika Chouksey, who essays the role of Anu in the television show ‘Tumm Se Tumm Tak’, has spoken up on her protein intake, and how she keeps it on track.

The actress shared that for her protein intake she prefers to take black chana, paneer bowls and salads in her diet.

She told IANS, “Protein is important for everyone, whether you're an actor or not. It's essential for a healthy body. I also think it's a myth that you can only get enough protein from non-vegetarian food”.

She further mentioned, “There are plenty of vegetarian options available. I make sure to include foods like black chana, paneer bowls and salads in my diet. Since I do eat non-vegetarian food as well, I also ensure that I include eggs regularly”.

Earlier, the actress had shared how the show changed her perception of love and relationships. In the recent track of the show, Anu (played by Niharika Chouksey) and Arya (played by Sharad Kelkar) finally tied the knot after overcoming several hurdles, emotional setbacks, and societal pressures.

She earlier told IANS, “When I look back at Anu's journey, I genuinely feel she has taught me so much. There were moments when everything seemed to be falling apart for her, but she never stopped believing in love. What I admire most about Anu is that her love was never blind or impulsive; it came from trust, patience, and understanding”.

“She stood by Arya not because life was easy, but because she believed in their bond, and I think that's something really beautiful”, she added.

The show captures the nuances of middle-class life, from family bonds and dreams to the balancing act between tradition and modernity, making it a genuine favourite among audiences.

‘Tumm Se Tumm Tak’ airs on Zee TV.

--IANS

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Mumbai, July 13 (IANS) Actor Govinda, who is making a comeback with his upcoming film ‘Roopa’ has said that he was written off by the film industry.

The actor attended the press conference for the film in the city on Monday, and shared that maybe it was his destiny that he was written off by the industry so that he can come back stronger.

He said, “Maybe it was destiny that I was written off many times. People said that now he will not appear in films. I start again. And I pray to God that what I have thought and what people cannot think, this film works its magic. This film is especially for youngsters. When they will see this in the theater. Such a dream will come true. And this is possible. I will not discuss any spirituality in this”.

The actor also shared that he is a firm believer of numerology, and got into it from a very tender age.

He said, “Number 14 is my good luck number. I believe in numerology. My name is also as per numerology. I believed in it at a very young age. I was 14 years old. I was blessed by God. I signed 14 films in a week. Then I saw super-stardom for 14 years. Then I became a member of parliament in the 14th Lok Sabha. I struggled for 14 years. And then I came back to films. This is the first time that I could not wait for more than 5 years. I said, ‘I will start again’. And now I hope that the journey has started from here”.

“When I used to say in the village that I will become a hero, people used to laugh at me. They said, ‘Neither you smoke cigarettes, consume alcohol, non-vegetarian food, garlic, nor onion. How can you become a hero?’. People used to say that if you run in fear, you will become a saint. But this did not happen. I did what my mother had thought. And now I feel that this film is very important for children. That such films should be made. And children should move forward”, he added.

--IANS

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Mumbai, July 13 (IANS) Raj Babbar revealed during "The Kapil Sharma Show" how he escaped dancing during the shoot of their movie 'Hum Paanch'.

Babbar shared that the film had all non-dancers like himself, Naseeruddin Shah. The only one who could do any step was Mithun Chakraborty. In order to avoid dancing under the strict dance master Kamal master, they all came up with a plan.

"So, this syndicate decided that we'll do something. We will make him (Kamal Master) abuse us, and when he abuses us in front of so many people, we'll get angry and will refuse to dance", shared Babbar.

He added that that is exactly what happened, "Mithun Chakraborty agreed to do all the movements. He kept doing it, but we didn't. So, there was a sound coming from the bottom. First, there was a sound "Cut, cut, cut, cut." After that, a loud noise came from the bottom, and we stood up and walked the other way round."

As the actors walked away, Boney Kapoor came running to them to sort out the matter. However, in the end, they all became good friends and came to an understanding.

"We used to follow the crowd around us and do some hand movements. We concentrated so much on the hand movements and with such great intensity that our hands probably seemed better than Mithun," Raj Babbar joked.

Made under the direction of Bapu, "Hum Paanch" marked Boney Kapoor's first movie as a producer. The all-star cast of the drama included Sanjeev Kumar, Shabana Azmi, Mithun Chakraborty, Deepti Naval, Naseeruddin Shah, Raj Babbar, Uday Chandra, Gulshan Grover, and Amrish Puri.

The film is a remake of the 1978 Kannada drama "Paduvaaralli Pandavaru" directed by Puttanna Kanagal. The movie was also remade by Bapu in Telugu in 1978 with the name "Mana Voori Pandavulu". Released on 19 December 1980, "Hum Paanch" turned out to be a massive hit at the box office.

--IANS pm/

Mumbai, July 13 (IANS) Actor Sriimurali has called his upcoming movie, 'PARAAK' as one of the most challenging films of his 23-year career, adding that the upcoming pan-India action entertainer demanded a different level of preparation, focus and commitment from every member of the team.

Speaking after the teaser was unveiled on Sunday, Sriimurali said, "Cinema has only one language, and that is good cinema. With 'PARAAK', I want to give the audience something different. It is the story and the concept that excited me the most. I have been in the industry for 23 years and have done many action sequences, but what we have attempted in this film is one of the most challenging experiences of my career. It is not about making a film quickly. It is about making it with conviction, responsibility and the determination to create something truly unique."

The actor revealed that working on 'PARAAK' required an entirely new approach.

He added, "'PARAAK' needed a different kind of preparation and a different level of focus. It is a new production house with a team of new technicians, and I always enjoy working with newcomers because they come with fresh thoughts and new energy. Our director, Halesh Kogundi, has a very clear vision. When everyone believes in that vision, something special can happen. The teaser will explain it better. I have never been part of a teaser like this in my career, and I genuinely feel the film is attempting something new for Indian cinema."

Describing the scale of the project, Sriimurali added, "When we started, we thought we were stepping into a river. Very soon, we realised it was actually a sea. That's how challenging 'PARAAK' has been. Every department had to prepare thoroughly, and all of us had to make small sacrifices

to stay true to the subject. We always kept the director's vision in mind, and that has guided every decision we made."

Director Halesh Kogundi said his vision was to create an action film where emotions remain at the heart of the narrative.

"I have been an action film lover since childhood. Watching great action films, especially 'Mad Max', made me realize that if I ever became a filmmaker, I wanted to make action films," he said.

Explaining his approach, the director added, "For me, action is more than spectacle or fight sequences, it's storytelling too. I want to explore human emotions, inner conflicts, and the realities I've witnessed through my upbringing. At its heart, this is a character-driven story where every action sequence grows organically from the characters, their choices, and their emotional journeys."

Calling 'PARAAK' an action suspense thriller, Halesh further said, "This film blends intense action with strong character arcs, ensuring that every moment serves both the story and the people at its center."

Talking about the teaser, it showcases Sriimurali in a rugged new avatar with a striking physical transformation, high-octane action sequences and large-scale visuals, backed by Charan Raj MR's powerful background score.

Known for films such as 'Ugramm', 'Mufti', 'Bharaate' and 'Bagheera', Sriimurali returns with what is being called as one of Kannada cinema's biggest pan-India action films.

Directed by Halesh Kogundi, 'PARAAK' is produced by Akhilesh Kogundi, Ashik Madal and Deepak Ashwath Narayan under the Brand Studios banner.

The film features music by Charan Raj MR, cinematography by Sandeep Valluri, while the story has been penned by Halesh Kogundi along with Team Brand Studios. The action choreography has been designed by stunt director Dr. K. Ravivarma.

–IANS

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Mumbai, July 13 (IANS) Actress and entrepreneur Anshula Kapoor took a trip down memory lane as she shared an emotional glimpse of her bidaai moments from her wedding.

Sharing the video, she celebrated the tender father-daughter bond she shares with filmmaker Boney Kapoor.

Taking to her social media account, Anshula posted a heartfelt reel capturing some of the most emotional moments from her bidaai ceremony on the day of her wedding.

The video showed Boney Kapoor embracing his daughter warmly as she graced the wedding venue.

In one frame, Anshula was seen holding on to him before bidding farewell and in another touching frame showed the father and daughter sharing a quiet moment amid the wedding celebrations.

Alongside the reel, Anshula wrote, 'In between all the big moments were little memories like these... and somehow, it's the quiet moments that end up meaning the most. Love you, Dad.'

Earlier, in a video posted by Anshula she had expressed how most of a childhood she did not get to spend with her father Boney Kapoor and spent all of it with her mother.

For the uninitiated, Boney Kapoor had gone on to marry Bollywood superstar Sridevi while he was still married to Arjun and Anshula's mother and his first wife Mona Shaurie Kapoor.

Sridevi and Boney Kapoor became parents to two children Jahnvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor, with whom he spent most of his time.

On the day most special day of her life, Anshula had expressed missing her late mother, and had shared a heartfelt video on her social media account, reflecting on how wedding planning unexpectedly became a reminder of her mother's absence.

In the video, she shared a few moments featuring her mother's pictures and her own wedding moments, and said, "This is me and this is my mom. This picture was taken on my fourth birthday and over the years it has somehow become the picture I always come back to whenever I need to feel close to her.

"I thought wedding planning would mostly be about flowers, outfits and guest lists.

She added, "I didn't expect it to be filled with moments where all I wanted was my mom. I wanted to ask her questions, I wanted to see her face when she saw me as a bride. Mostly though, I just wanted one of her hugs.

Anshula revealed how she carried her mother's essence and fragrance in a customised perfume while on her bachelorrate celebration in Seoul, Korea.

"She gave the kind of hugs that made everything feel okay. So, on my bachelorette in Seoul, I did something I'll treasure forever. I tried to turn this memory into a scent because on my wedding day, there was always going to be that one hug missing.

"I wore this perfume hoping that I'd feel like she was still there beside me and this is the closest I'll get to having her there.”

–IANS

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